This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.
SPEEDCATCHER
FADE IN:
EXT. THE CITY – NIGHT
It’s a big city.Bright lights. Some bridges.Busy streets, and tall buildings everywhere. You’ll take the hint. There’s no need to tell what place we are in.
EXT. A VILLAGE TRAIL – NIGHT
It’s a village.
Up front is a HOUSE. Two storeys, a GARAGE with a closed door. A small about 5 feet from the front door.
INT. THE GARAGE – NIGHT
It’s a garage. No car. But it’s messy. Paint spilled everywhere, a hacksaw dropped in one corner.
In a table are stuff that look a whole lot special than tools. A spandex sweat-shirt. A ski-mask.A stainless-steel spear, and some boots. Looks like the garage of super hero!
There’s even a bunch of comic books scattered beside a lamp.
There’s a briefcase at the far end of the long table.
INT. BOOK STORE – DAY
It’s a book store. Lots of school supplies. Books.TOM WAGNER, 25 is at the counter with a pencil and a sketch pad.
He’s drawing something. It’s a man with shades, a long leather over-coat and a sword.Any customer can clearly make out who Tom is, an artist.Like the customer (male) in front of him who has nothing but a THICK stack of yellow tablet paper.
CUSTOMER
You draw?
TOM
Yup.
Tom notices the quantity of what this guy’s buying.
CUSTOMER
I draw too.
TOM
You own a store?
CUSTOMER
Now how could you tell?
TOM
That’s way too much tablet paper for you to work with or for your kid’s in school.
CUSTOMER
Yeah. I own a store.
The customer hands a bill and Tom keeps it in the cash register.He packs up the school supplies being purchased by the man and hands it to him.
TOM
Have a nice day.
CUSTOMER
Likewise.
CLARK, about the same age as Tom approaches him and sits near the counter. He’s also a clerk. Although Tom and Clark are in the same league of guys, Clark isn’t as attractive as Tom, and he doesn’t have a pretty girlfriend. Tom has one.
Clark takes a look at Tom’s drawing.
CLARK
Lord of the Rings.
TOM
No.
CLARK
Lord of the Coins.
TOM
Not either.
CLARK
Terminator.
TOM
Uh-uh. I’m working on this new comic book, I haven’t given it a title yet. I will soon. The plot is top-secret. Man, I could sell this to Image.
CLARK
Still making those fucking comic books. Tom.
TOM
I can’t help. It’s what I was always meant to do. It’s my goal in life. Someday, I’ll be a very rich artists.
CLARK
You already work here.
TOM
I’ll quit working here.
CLARK
How are you and Jolie?
Clark leans back.Tom doesn’t stop work on the drawing.
TOM
None of your business, Clark. Why?
CLARK
No, man, I just wanna ask.
TOM
No. I’m not telling you.
CLARK
Come on, man.
TOM
We’re great.
CLARK
Great. That’s all?
TOM
What is it about me and Jolie you wanna know?
Clark shifts his position and studies the drawing.
CLARK
Man, that looks great.
Tom gestures something.
TOM
I screwed up a little bit on this part.
CLARK
Nahhhh...you couldn’t screw up.
TOM
Sure, I can.You just don’t notice where my mistakes are, but if you took art lessons once on a workshop. You’ll know where to spot ‘em.
CLARK
I mean, you’re so cool. The attention to every single detail. The shadows. Everything.
TOM
It isn’t that hard.
CLARK
Right.
Clark leans back.
CLARK
I’ve always fucked up in art class. I was never any good in art. I could only draw my teacher’s foot.
Tom laughs.
TOM
Well. It’s time to warm up.
Tom leaves his drawing momentarily. He opens up a drawer. Returns to his seat.
Tom tosses the HOW TO DRAW ACTION COMICS book and HOW TO DRAW MANGA VOL. 1 to Clark.
CLARK
Jeez. You kept this things all along?
TOM
I bought them in California.
CLARK
All right. I’ll get started.
TOM
You’re fucking weird.
CLARK
What?
TOM
I mean, all of a sudden, you’ve started talking about my drawings. You never liked any of my stuff.
CLARK
You think it’s too late?
TOM
Too late.
CLARK
Yeah. Too late.
TOM
Too late for what?
CLARK
Too late for me to start drawing.
TOM
Nope.
CLARK
I need to improve my motor skills.
TOM
What motor skills?
CLARK
I’ll study these books.
TOM
You don’t have to.
CLARK
What?
TOM
Break the rules, pal.
INT. TOM’S GARAGE
The garage earlier was actually Tom’s garage!
The garage door is closed.
He’s holding the stainless steel spear. It’s actually a collapsible spear.It collapses to the length of one meter.
Tom pulls it and it returns to its normal length.
TOM’S POV,
He’s looking at a gas can mounted on a shelf.
Tom twirls the spear.
ON TOM’S HAND,
He’s holding some sort of a switch on the spear. It’s a small lever. He pulls it downward.
The spear begins to fire up, the top end in flames. Tom twirls it, causing the flames to dance momentarily.
Tom puts off the flames.This is the FIRE SPEAR.Tom is not just an artist, he’s also something of an inventor.
Tom twirls the spear.He walks to the wall. It’s concrete.He twirls the spear once, jumps and pushes it through the wall. It penetrates so easily. It has a really sharp end.
Tom tries to hang from the spear as if doing some pull ups. Incredibly, it holds his weight.
He pulls it out of the wall.
Tom remains silent. Calm. He takes a good look at the spear. Obviously, its perfect.
Tom takes a glance at the clothes he made. The spandex sweatshirt.
He drops the spear.
He gets his hands on the sweatshirt. There’s sleeves, everything needed to conceal his upper body (except his hands, of course), but it seems so...empty. There’s nothing in the chest to show what his name is. No trade mark. No spider in the chest. No DD to let people know who he is. He needs a name.
TOM’S POV,
He takes a look at the spear on the floor.
Great, now if he’s gonna use THE FIRE SPEAR, how’s he gonna hide it?
It’s too sharp.
He lets go of the spandex costume, and gets his hands back on the sharp weapon. If he retracts it and hides it under his pants, it’ll slice his legs!
TOM
Nahhh---I’ll just carry you whenever I can.
Then Tom tosses away the spear.
Tom has a notebook on his cargo pocket.
It has names written hurriedly by a Uniball on it:
BLACK KNIGHT
SPIKE MASTER
NINJA LANCE
Tom closes the notebook.
TOM
Shit.
Sets it on the table.
Tom opens a door that leads into
INT. TOM’S HOUSE – NIGHT
There’s no one else in the house. Tom doesn’t have his mom and dad anymore.
Tom goes for the telephone and takes a seat on a small couch. He grabs the headset.
TOM
Jolie...Jolie...Jolie
Tom dials a number.
He’s gonna call Jolie Ferris. Girlfriend. A teller who works in a bank.They’ve been friends since High School. It’s been a long time. But Jolie became Tom’s official girlfriend about 5 months ago. They don’t take their relationship seriously, though.
JOLIE
Hello?
TOM
Good evening, Jolie.
JOLIE
Oh, hi Tom.
TOM
Saturday tommorow.
JOLIE
So.
TOM
It’s my day off.
JOLIE
I have three days off. Thursday, Friday, Saturday. What do you want?
TOM
Wanna go out for some pizza?
JOLIE
Yeah. Right.
TOM
Eleven thirty. Same place.
JOLIE
All right.
TOM
You still dating that asshole?
JOLIE
What? Who?
TOM
Reginald.
JOLIE
I go out with him frequently.
TOM
Shit.
JOLIE
But don’t worry, its not that I don’t like you more. It’s just that when you’re not with me, I usually like keeping busy. Doing OTHER things.
TOM
Other things?
JOLIE
Yup.
TOM
Like dating that asshole.
JOLIE
Precisely. I find him attractive.
TOM
I thought he was a hoodlum.
JOLIE
He looks like that, but he’s really nice.
TOM
And what does that make me look like?
CUT TO:
JOLIE’S HOUSE
JOLIE is very pretty, she’s holding the headset with her left hand. She’s smiling.
Jolie’s in her bed. She’s in her underwear, and lying prone.
JOLIE
Charming.
TOM
What?
JOLIE
I’m comparing both of you. You said he looks likea hoodlum. The way he dresses and all everything.
BACK TO TOM’S HOUSE:
Tom’s still on the couch.
TOM
Jolie. Stop comparing me to asshole.
JOLIE
(laughs)
What is it with you?
TOM
What?
JOLIE
Why do you keep calling him an asshole? He’s not all right.
TOM
You just agreed to what I said earlier.
JOLIE
All right. Tomorrow. Eleven thirty.
Jolie hangs up. Tom puts the receiver down.
He starts to lie down on the couch.
INT. PIZZA RESTAURANT – DAY
Tom and Jolie on a table. Both of them have large pizzas on their saucers.They only ordered a piece. Tom is scanning a phone book.
TOM
Okay. You don’t have Reggie’s number anywhere here.
Tom continues scanning the pages.
TOM
Not here. Nope. Nope. Nope.
JOLIE
It’s in my head.
TOM
What?
JOLIE
I don’t list everybody’s number.
TOM
I get the picture.
TOM
(continued)
When was the last time you went out with him?
JOLIE
I can’t remember.
TOM
Wooooh, so it’s like you go out with him and you can’t remember a single thing about since you’ve last met?
JOLIE
What?
TOM
Look. Jolie you pro’lly won’t remember today. What happened. Both of us. Sitting. Eating.
Casually, Tom hands back the phone book to Jolie and starts eating his pizza.
Jolie’s almost done. She’s eating slowly.
JOLIE
I don’t keep track of things.
TOM
You should. You have a job where you should keep track of things.
JOLIE
I mean I don’t necessarily have to remember things that are not important, like---
TOM
The last time you and Reggie went out.
JOLIE
That’s right.
Jolie chuckles.
TOM
Shit.
JOLIE
What?
TOM
I don’t mind you going out with other guys. But try not to hang out with nerds.
JOLIE
Look, Tom---I just don’t go out with anybody. Just watch yourself.
TOM
Should I?
JOLIE
I mean. Hey. Just back off. Give me some courtesy on this department.
TOM
All right.
JOLIE
Whew!
TOM
How’s everything going?
JOLIE
What?
TOM
Everything. Work. All that.
JOLIE
I’m great. Work’s fine. I don’t have any problems. Financially, nahh---nothing wrong.
TOM
Jolie I was thinking
(beat)
about you quitting your job.
JOLIE
What?
TOM
You should quit your job.
JOLIE
That’s strange. Why?
TOM
Well, you never know a hold up man could storm the place and wax everybody in less than a millisecond.
JOLIE
Same thing could happen at your shop, Thomas.
TOM
What wouldan asshole---
JOLIE
Your shop’s smaller. There aren’t many hiding places and it isn’t as big as a bank.
TOM
What idiot would rob a bookshop, an art department store for God’s sakes. I got an 80 out of a hundred bet for that.
TOM
I wasn’t joking though.
JOLIE
No. It’d be much of a hassle.
TOM
Well. It’s up to you.
JOLIE
Oh, yeah.
TOM
I don’t wanna lose you the way I lost Erika. It was horrible. Man, it was horrible. Badass. But I soon recovered after the incident.
JOLIE
Shit, why’d you have to bring that up?
TOM
It just came to mind.
JOLIE
Sure. I’d love to find an easier job, but what can I do? I can’t come and go that easy, heck I’d move to Minnesota just so I can say hi to my niece. I’m betting she’s eight now.
TOM
Well. Move.
JOLIE
I can’t do that. Not that easy, pal.
TOM
It’s more tiring than quitting a job and finding another one, but it’s worth everything if you give things a try.
JOLIE
All right. I quit. Where do I work?
TOM
Jeez, Jo, I guess your Uncle should have sent you to a better college. No offense.
JOLIE
None taken.
Both of them are done with their pizzas. They’d still love to go on chatting though.
TOM
Work at the cinema. Day off. Free movie. Don’t be a fucking usher, you’ll bore yourself with the same film over and over. Dispense tickets.
JOLIE
No.
TOM
It’s easy. Trust me.
JOLIE
Have you tried it?
TOM
Almost. But I was smarter.
JOLIE
Tom you don’t know that you can talk shit easy.
TOM
Oh yeah.
JOLIE
Mmmmm hmmm.
TOM
Yeah. I just want you to be safe.
JOLIE
I want you to be safe too.
TOM
Jolie. Your job isn’t a joke.
JOLIE
It’s not something to be embarrassed about.
TOM
Jolie. Stop. Do what I tell you.
INT. A LABORATORY – DAY
DR. TYLER, fifty-ish is talking with DR. KARL, his crony. It’s a huge laboratory, the tools beautifully arranged. Seems like everybody works systematically.
Both men have the same personality. Karl is older though, he’s 68.
Tyler and Karl are sitting in front of each other.
KARL
Iron and Stamina Enhancement Liquid.
TYLER
That’s right. I-S-E-L.
There’s a SYRINGE on the table.And three more that look like it.
Tyler grabs one of the syringes.
TYLER
This is it.
KARL
Are you sure you’re not trying to scam anybody here?
TYLER
Unless you think I’m a fucking idiot, no. I’m not scamming anybody and I’m not pulling shit.
KARL
You know I like your lab, but I’m not sure if I can approve of you duplicating I.S.E.L.You’ve had some sins right?
TYLER
I steal a lot. I take credit for things that aren’t mine.
Tyler tosses the syringe back to the table.
TYLER
Sins. As you would call it.
KARL
What I said, I’ve always been your friend, but I’ve read the report on disc, the formula, the definition. It’s strange.
TYLER
You said I can’t duplicate it.
KARL
You can not.
TYLER
Don’t worry. It’s only in one of the syringes.
I’ve labeled them carefully, as you can see.
KARL’S POV,
The syringes have labels. I.S.E.L., EXTREME IODINE (wait, that’s strange)---
KARL
Extreme Iodine.
TYLER
Extreme Iodine treatment.
KARL
What the fuck is that?
TYLER
It cures wounds. Someone has been injured badly, you give it a shot to the exact spot where it bleeds a lot.
KARL
Shit, Karl, I hope you don’t start using that thing, I still need to get a study of all the other things you are inventing. It’s not that easy to be a scientist. It’s not that easy to have this kind of proffesion, Dr. Tyler.
TYLER
Look. I know that.
KARL
And where does the shot go for the Iron and Stamina liquid.
TYLER
Oh, on a open vein in their arms.
KARL
That’s ridiculous.
TYLER
It spreads to the heart like a deadly virus. A nail that kills when it pierces you anywhere. That’s why we look for a vein, give it a shot and bingo. It should have its effect in three hours.
KARL
You’re gonna test this thing on yourself?
TYLER
I don’t know about that yet.
KARL
What?
TYLER
No way. Probably not on myself, we need a volunteer, I could kidnap a prisoner who’s about to get killed, see what he can do and kill him anyway.
KARL
You should have considered first things first.
TYLER
That’s my problem.
KARL
Ah, enhances stamina, enhances strength. It never gets lost until the experimentation template will die. It is permanent. The effect is guaranteed to be fully functional with in three hours---
TYLER
Never mind quoting the disc, just say what you have to say to me right now.
KARL
There’s nothing more I have to say I guess, there’s nothing more.
TYLER
Any questions?
KARL
Why exactly did you choose to do these things?
TYLER
What?
KARL
You heard me, Tyler.
TYLER
Well. Everbody wants to make a difference.
KARL
Not everybody.
TYLER
But me.
KARL
Look, call off all schedules for three weeks. I need to know more about the formula.
TYLER
Three weeks is too long.
KARL
You can wait.
TYLER
No, no this is insane.
KARL
I can tell you what to do, I own the lab even if I don’t work here, I can boss you around any time I want. You know me.
TYLER
Shit, man. I just hate this.
KARL
Of course you do.
TYLER
Oh, well.
KARL
Yes. Yes.
TYLER
Change your mind?
KARL
Never.
TYLER
Shit.
KARL
I could never change my mind.
TYLER
Listen up, I can test I.S.E.L. this week. I can guarantee the said results, just give me about four days, five days.
KARL
No. We need to be safe. We need to work wisely.
TYLER
I can test it.
KARL
And have some hulking man attack us after you carelessly overlook something. Someone we don’t know, or you could go insane for God’s sakes. I know that we ought to take risks, but let’s not rush.
TYLER
We’ll see what we can see.
IN A COMPUTER ROOM,
A TECHNICIAN is typing really fast on a keyboard.The PRINTER is making some documents. Suddenly, it stops.
The technician stands to have a look.
No more paper.
TECHNICIAN
Whoops.
INT. THE BOOK STORE – DAY
Tom and Clark. The store has some customers, but they’re basically just window shopping. No one has stopped by the counter so far.
Tom, as always is drawing.
Clark is on the counter. Tom seated near him.
CLARK
So, how did it go?
TOM
Fine. It went fine.
CLARK
I wanna have a girlfriend. I want a gurl. Someone who approaches me first, and tells me I’m sexy.
TOM
Whoops, that’s reverse psychology, she says that your sexy, and you’re gonna tell her that she is a built hottie. Oh shit.
Both of them laugh, but Tom’s skilled hands never get off the drawing.
CLARK
Right.
TOM
Do some pull ups. I hear they make you taller.
CLARK
I had this friend in Junior High, he was really tall, he was a kick-ass bastard, and he dressed up like Ah-nuld, and he hits guys with glasses.
TOM
Yeah?
CLARK
Being tall is not such a bad thing, eh?
TOM
No.
TOM
Do the pull ups.
CLARK
Pull ups.
TOM
Well, I wish I could have Erika back.
CLARK
Never talk about dead people.
TOM
Why?
CLARK
What why?
TOM
You’re squeamish, I get it.
CLARK
You don’t have to.
TOM
I mean, really. She and Jolie would have been good friends, I was gonna be going out with TWO of them. And yeah.
CLARK
Sugar, spice, and everything nice.
TOM
But we had an argument before she got shot.
CLARK
Looks like one of you deserved to bite the dust after that fight.
TOM
What?
CLARK
Never mind.
TOM
I wouldn’t let that happen again. I can’t. I won’t. Never.
CLARK
Never say never again.
TOM
Well, we had hell of a time talking about Reggie.
CLARK
Oh yeah?
TOM
Yup.
CLARK
She likes him a lot.
TOM
A lot better than she likes me?
CLARK
I guess so.
TOM
No, no, hell, no.
CLARK
Sure?
TOM
She and I never take relationships seriously. I mean relationships are never meant to be serious.
CLARK
Okay.
TOM
But, you know what?
CLARK
(nods)
Mmm.
TOM
I do mind.
CLARK
What do you mean?
TOM
Reggie sucks. I don’t think a smart girl like her deserves someone like him.
CLARK
You mean that she deserves a hunk like you, and no matter how many guys she sleeps with, no one has anything, absolutely anything in common with you, right?
TOM
Whatever.
CLARK
That’s true. Hunk.
TOM
Nahhh.
CLARK
Whooo. Boy.
TOM
Say, when was the last time you went out on a date?
CLARK
Prom night. I dated her, dissed her overnight.
TOM
That’s sad.
CLARK
Well, no, she never really did like me though. Right, like anyone would like me.
A long pause.
Clark observes most or all of the customers.
CLARK
Do those guys mind buying anything?
TOM
No. I wouldn’t mind.
CLARK
Gee, we haven’t had a sale in three hours. I’m not used to this.
The phone rings. Clark picks it up.
CLARK
Yeah? Yeah, right. Right. I’m sure you know that.
CLARK
(continued)
Yeah, sure. Sure, oh yeah that happens a lot, sir. But most of the time, you don’t have to worry aboutthose things.
CLARK
(continued)
---okay, tell me what you want me to know. Where. Everything. We don’t want to get confusion since I understand that this is an emergency...... right, right. Okay. I see. There, okay. Thank you.
Clark hangs up.
TOM
So?
CLARK
Tom, do you mind making a delivery?
TOM
What?
CLARK
This guy needs a whole ream of bond papers. The short kind and he needs it right now. He’s in the middle of printing some documents, you know.
TOM
Ahh, shit. Okay.
EXT. SIDEWALK – DAY
Tom is bringing the PACKAGE. Obviously, the papers are inside the OPAQUE, LIGHT BROWN envelope he’s carrying.
He continues to walk.
The sidewalk he picked sure isn’t busy. There’s virtually no one around! Except for a black biker who’s cycling at top speed, heading towards him.
AT TOM’S IMMEDIATE RIGHT
is a BOTIQUE, three well-dressed mannequins visible through the glass window.
Tom continues. Ignores the biker as he draws closer.
Suddenly, the bike skids.
It continues to slip, until it hits Tom really hard.
Tom flies off, and his knee smashes against the ledge, right under the window of the botique.
The package isn’t away from him, it just fell to his side. Tom gets up.
The biker gets up too. He isn’t injured, he looks tough, he’s strong, and now...he’s pissed.
BIKER
Fuck me.
Tom is standing still, he doesn’t pick up the package, he’s trying to figure his way out of this one.He doesn’t know that his right leg is bleeding like hell.
TOM
You should watch were you’re going, asshole!
Biker drags Tom about eight steps from the botique window, and presses his body against the concrete. He lets it go.
BIKER
You know what, motherfucker, you shouldn’t talk to me like that. Do I look like your typical nigga, or haven’t you taken a hint that I AM the street.
TOM
Fuck you.
Biker throws a punch, Tom grabs his arm, twists it, and kicks Biker in the stomach.
The biker falls flat and his head clatters to a post with a PING! sound.
TOM
I’m trying to deliver something. You’re wasting my time.
INT. THE LABORATORY – DAY
NEAR AN ELEVATOR,
Tom is facing a GUARD. It’s quite a tense moment.They’re having an argument.
TOM
Look, it’s like I’m having a gun here, and I’m gonna shoot somebody, what do you want?
GUARD
We can’t just let you in. This is a laboratory, and the people who work here trust the sentry guys, I can’t just let you in like you’re someone who works here.
TOM
What do you expect from me, I’m only a delivery guy.
GUARD
Like I said, we expect some I.D.
TOM
What do you expect me to do?
GUARD
What do you expect to do?
TOM
I swear to God, I can’t just run home and grab my I.D. card, I can’t just grab my wallet.
GUARD
Then, I’m sorry, I can’t let you in. I’m gonna have to send you away.
TOM
Who do you think I am?
GUARD
I don’t care.
TOM
You think I’m a spy, who’s sending you a bomb. That’s it, isn’t it?
GUARD
Or, you can give me the package, and let me give it to the person who’s supposed to own this.
TOM
Doctor Tyler.
GUARD
Why didn’t you just tell me?
TOM
I can handle this. I can give it to him myself.
GUARD
I’m really tired of this bullshit.
Suddenly, Tyler passes by.
The Guard turns to him.
GUARD
This man has something for you, sir.
TYLER
Oh, a delivery guy?
TOM
That’s right sir. I have the papers you want.
TYLER
Oh, yes, fine. I need you. Let him in.
INSIDE TYLER’S LAB,
Tyler shows Tom around. Tom is still holding the envelope.
TYLER
You have to understand, Mr. Wagner,
TOM
Tom.
TYLER
...we need to be very strict with security, even some cops have trouble getting in. This laboratory is unlike any other. If I can’t shut up, I guess I’m gonna tell you that I have some top secret projects on the way.
TOM
Top secret?
TYLER
That’s right.
TOM
That’s interesting. But I guess, I have to go.
TYLER
Not really, you can stay a little while longer if you want.
TOM
No, really.
TYLER
You have another delivery to make?
TOM
Nope.
Tyler can see Tom’s bloody leg. His right leg has been tortured, and Tom has been calm about it.
TYLER
Jesus Christ, look at your leg!
TOM
Oh?
Tom glances at the leg.
TOM
Yeah, I had an accident at a sidewalk. I’ll be more careful next time. I guess that’s why I have to go.
TYLER
No, no, you’re not going anywhere.
TOM
What?
TYLER
Not with that leg.
TOM
I have to get it treated. FAST.
TYLER
Right.
TOM
Shit. I guess it hasn’t stopped bleeding.
TYLER
Come.
Tom follows Tyler to a far table.
TOM
Yeah.
TYLER
You need E.I. It’s better than band aids. I’ll shoot a syring through the open wound and it’ll stop in no time.
TOM
E.I.?
TYLER
Never mind. There’s no time to waste.
Tyler urges Tom to sit, he grabs the E.I. syringe.
The Technician we saw earlier walks into the room, and shouts Tyler’s name.
TYLER
Yes?
TECHNICIAN
I need to get done printing now.
Tyler drops the syringe back to the table and turns to Tom.
TYLER
May I have the package?
TOM
Sure.
Tyler tosses the package to the technician after Tom hands it to him.
Next thing that happens, the syringe back in Tyler’s hand.
But if you look closely, it isn’t the E.I. syringe. It’s the I.S.E.L. syringe. The chemicals are going right into Tom’s leg.
Tyler gives it the shot, he hits the wound. He withdraws the injection and throws the syringe back to the table.
TYLER
Well, has it stopped?
TOM
I guess it already did five minutes ago.
TYLER
Whatever, but you should know. It’ll get better in know time. Gee, you need to get new pants. Okay, get going.
TOM
Thanks, doc.
INT. BANK – NEXT DAY
Tom visits Jolie’s bank.Jolie’s not on the counter. She’s not doing anything, but clearly this isn’t a day off because of the way she’s dressed.
Besides just the two, ELLIS BISHOP, someone who also works here stands before them
Tom shakes Ellis’s hand.
TOM
It’s a pleasure to meet you.
ELLIS
Likewise.
TOM
So, what do you do?
ELLIS
Work.
TOM
I came here to see how Jolie does her job, how the routine goes, I mean if you don’t mind. I hope this doesn’t bother you.
ELLIS
Of course not. I check the currency exchange, talk to people who are concerned.
TOM
Okay.
ELLIS
That’s my job.
JOLIE
And I sit at the counter
ELLIS
So, I hear that you’ve lost your X?
TOM
Wait, Jolie.
JOLIE
I must have missed explaining something.
TOM
That was years ago. Her name was Erika. It was really horrible, and I’d kill the man who took her life. I wish it --- I wish me and her had a happy ending. I wish I can find closure and resolve this.
ELLIS
But you can’t.
JOLIE
I’ll go back to the counter.
Jolie does.
Ellis and Tom continue talking.
ELLIS
Your job?
TOM
Book store. But don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t suck, I love it, really I really love my job.
Tom takes a look at the security guards at the foyer, Ellis notices this.
TOM
I sure hope they do their jobs well. Besides just getting decent pay every month and cleaning my house, Jolie. Jolie’s my number one priority.
ELLIS
Oh, she has to be. She has to be.
TOM
What are your priorities?
ELLIS
Just the bank. I care about the bank.
TOM
I must be bothering you.
ELLIS
Oh no. Lord no. It’s fine.
Tom can’t get his eyes off the security guards. He doesn’t feel good about this.
ELLIS
Don’t worry, man. No one’s gonna rob the bank. Jeez, what is it with you, Tom Wagner?
TOM
I don’t want anybody robbing this bank.
ELLIS
What?
TOM
I feel insecure.
ELLIS
Don’t be. Shit happens everywhere. You just gotta stay away from it.
TOM
Christ, those guys are only armed with handguns.
ELLIS
So, they’re automatic?
TOM
I know they’re not rusty, but can’t they give those guys better weapons like MP5’s or M16’s.
ELLIS
No, I don’t think they can give them better things. Grenades? Rocket launchers, what? What do you want?
TOM
How many bathrooms do you have here?
ELLIS
Two. Behind the counter. Near the foyer over there.
Ellis raises a hand. Points.
TOM
That’s fair.
ELLIS
You don’t seem like a guest.
TOM
I’m sorry.
ELLIS
No. Nothing to be sorry about, its just that you seem like an undercover agent ready to pull a sting on this bank!
TOM
Sorry. But I don’t want it to seem that way, that’s not what I’m doing. I’m doing this for Jolie.
ELLIS
Yeah, well. Your girlfriend is none of my business.
TOM
Anyways, thank you for your time and I’ll go back to her.
Tom approaches the counter where Jolie is sitting.
Tom turns around, he has something else to say to Ellis.
TOM
One more thing.
ELLIS
Yeah? How many guns do we place under the counter?
TOM
Jolie and I are friends. We go out we’re friends. We go catch movies, we’re friends. That’s all basically. I hardly call her my girlfriend.
ELLIS
Yeah, whatever.
CUT TO:
Tom talking to Jolie on the counter.
JOLIE
You think I haven’t figured that out?
TOM
No, we just need to be precautious. Run to the bathroom whenever you need to. Just run to the bathroom.
JOLIE
That’s silly. You’re paranoid. You lost Erika.
TOM
And I don’t wanna lose you.
JOLIE
You don’t have to be scared, Tom.
TOM
I know.
JOLIE
So.
TOM
Busy at the end of the day?
JOLIE
What?
TOM
Are you busy tonight?
JOLIE
Wanna go out?
TOM
Yup.
JOLIE
I’m busy.
TOM
Shit. I guess I’ll scram.
INT. TOM’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Tom is sitting on a couch. He’s wearing a shirt and jogging pants.
The T.V. is on.
Tom pulls up his pants, and he can see the spot where his right leg got fucked yesterday. No scars. No wound. That’s strange.
The movie on the T.V. is SPIDER-MAN, then 2002, Tobey Maguire version.
It’s the scene where Peter Parker is climbing the wall on the alley, discovering his new super powers. Soon, Tom will discover his own too.
INT. THE LABORATORY – DAY
There’s no one else. It’s basically a half-populated building.
Same elevator. Same guard. Two men, dressed in tuxedos. AGENT JACOBS, and SPECIAL AGENT JACKSON of the FBI.
GUARD
Yeah.
JACKSON
We’ve already shown you I.D. now, we need to see Mr. Tyler.
GUARD
All right.
INSIDE TYLER’S LAB
Jackson and Jacobs confront Tyler.
JACKSON
Sir, if you don’t mind us asking, have you been running additional projects in your laboratory?
JACOBS
We need to know.
TYLER
That’s none of your business.
JACOBS
It is our business. We are the government. The United States has a right to know everything about the world. Scientists.
TYLER
No. None of your business.
JACOBS
Just tell us. We have guns.
TYLER
What are you gonna do?
JACOBS
Nothing.
JACKSON
Just tell us.
TYLER
What are you gonna do, you’re gonna shoot me just because I can’t give you my status on my very own laboratory.
The conversation is barely audible from where Dr. Karl is seated. He’s studying some documents.
BACK TO TYLER, JACOBS AND JACKSON,
JACKSON
No, we’re not gonna shoot you.
JACOBS
Okay. Straight to the point.
TYLER
You bastards better damn well tell me what this is all about.
JACOBS
What if we said that you’re under arrest.
TYLER
What? I haven’t shot anybody. I never killed anybody, never stole. What do you want from me? Get away from my lab! You fucking pricks, just march in here, tell me you’re authority and arrest me for nothing.
JACOBS
Actually, Tyler, we’re not sure if we are gonna do that.
TYLER
What?
JACOBS
Do you know this man?
Jackson shows him a polaroid photograph.
JACKSON
This man.
TYLER
Of course, he’s Danny Leonard. He’s one of my customers. Clients, I mean.
JACOBS
That’s the point, we think you are his accomplice.
TYLER
What? He is a stuntman.
JACOBS
He’s no stuntman.
TYLER
Well, I’m not sure if you’re trying to give me something exceptional and something worth wasting my time with, but why would I be an accomplice of a crooked stuntman?
JACKSON
No stuntman.
JACOBS
The man is a thief.
TYLER
What?
JACOBS
He robs banks for money, he kills people, he steals jewelry, do you have any idea what you’ve done?
TYLER
I didn’t steal from a bank.
JACOBS
No, you didn’t.
JACKSON
We’ve interviewed eye witnesses, shocked, traumatized. A bank in this city was robbed yesterday.
TYLER
I robbed no bank.
JACOBS
We’ve had a report of the guy in jet boots.
TYLER
I invented the jet boots, I gave it to him. Why was he wearing shades?
JACOBS
Must be some special shades you invented?
TYLER
No.
JACOBS
He probably doesn’t want to get recognized.
TYLER
This is ridiculous.
JACOBS
Yes, it is.
TYLER
So, I guess you guys can go away now?
JACOBS
Not so fast.
TYLER
What?
JACOBS
What else did you give him? What else did you INVENT for Danny Leonard that turned him into the most dangerous thief we know today.
TYLER
Bullet proof material, he probably wears it under his jacket all the time. You can’t shoot him that easy. Trust me.
JACOBS
Second, we’re gonna have to take you away from this lab, interview you further, possibly detain you for longer periods of time. And
TYLER
I have a job to do!!!
TYLER
Security!!!!!
Suddenly, men with guns storm the place and approach the two agents.
But both of them draw their guns and wipe them out.
Without a beat, Jackson shoots Karl and Tyler too. Dirty FBI guys. That’s what these two men are.
DISSOLVE TO:
ON THE TABLE
The three syringes are still resting. The I.S.E.L. syringe rolls off. It’s empty.Tyler is dead and he hasn’t even spotted the fact that he used up all his new chemicals. If he was still alive, he’d make more of it just to spite Dr. Karl. Karl’s also dead.
INT. THE BOOK STORE – NIGHT
Very few customers are left.
Tom and Clark as usual, are present, this time Tom at the counter.
Clark is on a big chair, relaxed, laid-back after a long day’s work.
CLARK
So, I guess it isn’t easy to get Jolie to quit.
TOM
She has to soon.
CLARK
Why are you so insecure about her job?
TOM
A bank is not a safe place to work in.
CLARK
Calm down, man.
TOM
Nope.
A CUSTOMER (female) picks up some goods, pays for them.
Tom punches in the price in the cash register and packs the items. He hands it to the customer.
The customer walks out of the shop.
CLARK
What’s your plan?
TOM
I don’t know.
CLARK
Giver her a gun.
TOM
What?
CLARK
Let her carry it. Jolie will surrender the gun to the security guards, or let them know about it. So when bank robbers come in, I doubt there are any, she’ll shoot them to kingdom come.
TOM
Good idea. But no, I want her to find a new job.
CLARK
What new jobs are there?
TOM
I don’t know. I don’t know, I keep telling her to find one for herself. Jolie won’t. I care about her.
CLARK
Ever talked about Reggie?
TOM
Bastard.
CLARK
Huh?
TOM
No, I haven’t talked about him with Jolie when I went to the bank. I had limited time only. I just had to check the place out.
CLARK
Hey! Listen. No one’s gonna rob a bank.
TOM
I hear you.
CLARK
No one’s gonna rob one.
Tom checks his watch, its 8:00 P.M.An hour ‘til they close.Just one more hour.
TOM
An hour to go, man.
CLARK
Okay. All right.
TOM
Wait, man you take over.
CLARK
Me?
TOM
You.
CLARK
No way! I’ve had a hard time on my ass yesterday, now its your turn. Stand up if you want to.
TOM
I’ve been working the whole day.
CLARK
I know.
TOM
Shit, come on, Clark.
CLARK
I took you over yesterday because you had to go out to see Jolie. Now its your turn, man.
Tom stands up.
TOM
All right. I’m standing.
CLARK
Fine.
TOM
Shit, you’re not working tomorrow.
CLARK
So?
TOM
So---
CLARK
You don’t have to work either.
TOM
Darn it, I’m starting to hate this job.
CLARK
It’s safer than working in a bank.
TOM
Shut up.
CLARK
Wow, I am having a bad fucking headache.
TOM
You don’t sleep well do you?
CLARK
Not really.
TOM
What time do you crash?
CLARK
Two in the morning.
TOM
Shit.
CLARK
By the way, I have something for you.
TOM
What?
Clark hands him a BACK PACK.
TOM
What’s this?
CLARK
Books. Deliver them.
TOM
What?
CLARK
Deliver them. You just gotta take them to the person who ordered them, hey, you’re good at this. So, go ahead, do me the favor.
TOM
You deliver this!
CLARK
What?
TOM
I’m not you’re butler. I’m not a postman.
CLARK
Look. Deliver these books and school supplies tomorrow. Then you can take the payment from the guy who ordered these and its over.
TOM
I knew you were going to make me do something, Clark.
CLARK
Dude, all you gotta do is avoid getting mugged. It’s that simple.
TOM
All right. All right. What street does he live in?
EXT. SIDEWALK – NIGHT
Tom is walking with the backpack. It is slung to his right shoulder.
Suddenly, two PUNKS approach him.
The first punk pulls out a KNIFE, tries to intimidate him with it.
Punk 2 cocks his fists, trying even harder to scare him.
They surround him.
Tom focuses on Punk 2, the unarmed opponent. He kicks him. Hard, then he flies to the other end of the street, and his body hard hits a brick wall, and a few bricks come off and fall on his head.
TOM
Wow!
PUNK 1
(shocked)
What the fuck is going on?
Hey makes efforts to stab Tom, but Tom evades the blows, by simply sidestepping and moving from side to side. Forward, backward. He wants to throw a punch to this guy. This punk is one tough motherfucker, after seeing what he just did, he should have chickened out. But he didn’t.
Both of them are still fighting. Tom is wondering, how the hell did I manage to take out the other guy like that? Then he thinks, is it worth it if I finish this asshole too?
Tom runs away from him, but the tough punk won’t let up, he chases him with the knife, amazingly Tom runs in a circle on the street, super-fast, unlike anything ever seen. Certainly not faster than THE FLASH, but its incredibly strange, and he could compete with Gail Devers for that.
Tom jumps, he jumps up, up, really high, and lands on Punk 1. His chest is broken, and he can’t breath, Tom gets off his body. Still amazed of how hard he can kick, how high he can jump. He has really strong legs.
Tom tries to run. Now, he’s doing the same run that he did on the street, he’s sprinting through the sidewalk, not caring about beggars seeing him or cops stopping him. Yes, this is amazing! He jumps! And he reaches the top of a fairly tall brownstone, lands on his feet. That jump was certainly higher than Spider-Man’s leap.
But why? Tom remembers.
INSERT FLASHBACK: The injection given to his wounded leg.
It was some kind of special chemical.
Tom continues to walk.
Tom is faces the concrete wall to his right.All right, if he can do all that, can he climb walls?
He tries. It’s silly. He can’t.
TOM
Not Spider-Man. Darn, not Spider-Man.
But Tom throws a punch to the wall. He doesn’t break his arm, instead he breaks the wall, cement falling down on the ground, dust on his hands. He has become really strong too. This is amazing. He has always wanted this.
INT. TOM’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Tom dials the phone, he puts the receiver on his ear.
TOM
Hello, Clark?
CLARK
Tom.
TOM
Yeah, ummmm, I’m gonna deliver it tomorrow.
Tom takes a glance at a backpack which he has set carefully on a table.
CLARK
You better.
TOM
Don’t sound like you’re my boss.
CLARK
Yeah. Right.
TOM
I’m gonna deliver it, don’t worry.
CLARK
What’s up.
TOM
Nothing, nothing. Just calling to say hi!
CLARK
Asshole. You do this to Jolie all the time do you. I bet that’s why he likes Reginald.
TOM
No way, that is unacceptable.
CLARK
Okay.
TOM
Hey, dude, next time, when there’s something to deliver, you do the job okay?
CLARK
All right.
TOM
So, I have to say something.
CLARK
What?
TOM
Something weird happened tonight.
CLARK
Shit. I don’t like the sound of that, you got mugged, right. Tell me you didn’t get mugged.
TOM
Something else. Something really cool.
CLARK
What?
A really long pause.
TOM
Never mind.
Tom hangs up.
INT. A BANK – DAY
It’s a bank. No, not Jolie’s, but definitely a bank. It looks different from Jolie’s but there are some similarities.
The security guards aren’t armed with rifles.
They are dressed in coats, and obviously their weapons are fastened carefully to their harnesses inside.
No metal detectors for the security guards. This bank sucks.
Suddenly, a man walks in.He looks familiar. He’s DANNY LEONARD, he doesn’t look like a social guy. His face projects an ominous personality. He’s wearing a long overcoat.
Danny is wearing BOOTS.
INSIDE HIS PANTS, The boots are attached to fuel tubes.
THE BOOTS
have some rectangular openings behind them, above the heel. They look hard, and looks like Tyler also made them bullet-proof.
Danny walks to one of the waiting seats where lots of people are. The people have been here for really long hours, and that can easily be distinguished because of their faces, they look impatient, pissed and in a hurry.
Danny takes a seat, as if he just set up an appointment with the teller, but he hasn’t.
Danny observes the place.
Danny checks his watch.
Danny brings out a book. It’s a SIDNEY SHELDON BOOK. He pretends to read it, he pretends to be scanning the pages, but in reality he’s scanning the place. Counting how many people are in, what the security guards are doing and he’s keeping a close eye on the Teller (male).All right, this is the guy he’s gonna approach, but he won’t be careless and hasty. He has to wait.
Danny begins shaking his legs, he tries to look more casual because he doesn’t wanna give out a single clue about what he’s gonna do in a few minutes.
Danny continues “reading” the novel.
Should he go for the kill right now?
Danny checks his watch. No. Not yet.
It’s important to Danny that he times everything he does, he’s really experienced in robbing banks. Even long before he met Dr. Tyler, he was an expert thief, no one could see him coming. No one has ever caught him. He doesn’t have a criminal record. And he doesn’t need a ski mask to pull off the job.
Danny stands up, fixes his coat.
Danny pockets the novel on his overcoat.
That’s right, he doesn’t need a ski-mask. He puts on a pair of shades.
Danny walks up to the counter, and lets a ghost of a smile come to his face to convince the Teller that he’s a friendly man.
The Teller is absently drumming his pen on the table. Somehow, this guy makes him nervous, is it his menacing face, or is it the shades? He can’t tell.
TELLER
Yes, sir.
LEONARD
My name’s Danny Leonard, I’d like to withdraw the money I kept on this place.
TELLER
You have an account number.
Danny recites an account number.
But it looks like that the security guards are motor-mouths and that seems to overlap his voice.
BACK TO DANNY
TELLER
Excuse me. I gotta check that out, sir.
The Teller walks away from the counter.
A minute goes by.
The Teller returns.
TELLER
Excuse me, sir, I don’t have that account on our records, I checked it and we don’t have a record for a Danny Leonard either. Or an account for the account number you gave me.
LEONARD
In that case, I better consult the guards.
Danny walks toward the two guards, both of them haven’t finished chatting.
TELLER
Sir! The guards no nothing about bank accounts.
Danny gets ready to draw his gun.
LEONARD
Excuse me, sir.
GUARD 1
Yes?
Without a beat, he shoots both of them.
He walks back up to the teller.He hurls a grenade towards the vault.
BOOM! It explode, a brilliant light blinds everyone until we
DISSOLVE TO:
THE WALL OF THE BANK
written in blood and in big bold letters: THE THIEF.
INT. FBI HEADQUARTERS – DAY
Jacobs and Jackson alone in a ROOM.
JACOBS
Well, he’s here and he’s active.
JACKSON
And he’s got a really cool codename.
JACOBS
THE THIEF?
JACKSON
I think it’s just Thief.
JACOBS
Whatever, but we better keep a close eye on that son of a bitch, I’m sure that that’s not the last bank he’s gonna rob.
JACKSON
You think we have a shot at him?
JACOBS
I don’t think so.
JACKSON
We have to stop Danny Leonard. We gotta stop him fast.
JACOBS
I mean, we’re sure that he’s here.
JACKSON
I know, in this town---
JACOBS
But somehow he’s always one step ahead of us.I want to see that son of a bitch in a morgue, and I’ll even beat the crap out of him, even when I know he’s shot just to make sure that he’s fucking dead. I want him dead! He’s making me sick.
JACKSON
And we had to kill a few people to get to him.
JACOBS
What?
JACKSON
What we did at the labs?
JACOBS
So what.
JACKSON
We could burn for that.
JACOBS
Calm down, we’ve always been dirty.
JACKSON
I don’t think we should have done it.
JACOBS
What? We had to. Those guys would’a shot us up if we hadn’t reacted to their attack anyway. And something else, we’re the FBI, and even if the cops knew, I don’t think they’d give a shit, because we are of higher authority.
JACKSON
If our boss knows about this?
JACOBS
Not to worry.
JACKSON
Jesus, why did we ever do that?
JACOBS
I told you to relax, there’s nothing wrong, now we gotta think of taking out Danny Leonard fast.
JACKSON
I’m sick of this. I want to work on another case.
JACOBS
We can’t. Many more lives will be wasted, a lot of money will be shanghaid if we act like sitting ducks.
JACKSON
I don’t care.
JACOBS
You’re my partner on this.And I wonder what else that bastard Tyler sold to him.
JACKSON
Was he dirty?
JACOBS
Oh, absolutely.
JACKSON
Why do you say that?
JACOBS
He’s actually a liar. He sold more stuff to him. Heck, I think he even knew that he was a bank robber, maybe when he was still small time, but definitely knew him.
JACKSON
What about the other guy, the other guy you shot?
JACOBS
What? Who?
JACKSON
The other guy.
JACOBS
Dr. Karl?
JACKSON
Dr. Karl, yeah, yeah, yeah the other doctor. Why’d you shoot him.
JACOBS
I never liked him. He runs the lab, but he isn’t out of Tyler’s league. He deserved the cap on his heart.
INT. TOM’S GARAGE – NIGHT
He’s already changed into his SPEEDCATCHER costume. Yes, it’s the speed catcher costume, there are RED letters made of spandex attached to the chest portion of the black sweatshirt: SC. It’s similar to Daredevil’s but slightly different because the two letters aren’t link. They overlap each other, S on top.
He’s wearing everything except the mask.
He puts on the mask.
He grabs hold of the FIRE SPEAR on the table. It’s still collapsed, he returns it to its normal length, puts on the flames, twirls it, and pushes it through the wall by his side.
The spear is 3 feet above his head, he leaps, grips it and uses it to flip his body 360 degrees. He drops, pulls it off the wall and tosses it back to the table. Cool.
CUT TO:
TOM’S LIVING ROOM,
He’s on a couch. Tom’s holding the remote of the T.V. he’s frowning. The news is all about Danny Leonard, “THIEF’S” brutal robbery.
Actually this is the first time one of Leonard’s robberies has ever hit the news. He hasn’t been identified before, or if he was the police and FBI kept him secret. His status was never known.
Tom continues to listen carefully to the horryfying report.
INT. A BANK – NIGHT
Enter Leonard once again. He’s wearing the shades.
Leonard can see the beautiful diamond 20 meters from him. It’s covered on all four sides, it’s covered by glass.
What’s making him think and hesitate are the lasers that are blocking the pathway to the diamond.
All right. No problem.
Leonard walks through the laser and a KLAXON rings irritatingly loud.
Leonard breaks the glass that covers the jewel, he takes the diamond, puts it inside the BLACK BAG he’s carrying.
Security guards bolt into the room, but they’re carrying revolvers. This won’t be too hard.
He’s still wearing the long overcoat, and from his sides, he grabs two AIR-PROPELLED BLADES. They are made of stainless steel, and are about 24 inches long.
He activates the blades and throws it towards the guards.
There are only three guards.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
They start firing their weapons.
But the next thing that can be heard are the screams of “Nooooooo!!!!!!” as the blades rush toward them.
There’s a glass window.
Leonard draws a pistol and shoots it.
Leonard presses something on his belt. It’s some sort of computer, automatically, the blades fly to him and the propellers collaps, drop to his palms. He replaces them into his belt.
Leonard rockets away through the window.
EXT. DOWNTOWN, THE STREETS – NIGHT
It’s another night. The streets are busy. Tom is pacing the steps of the sidewalk. He’s carrying a fairly large briefcase. It’s obvious what’s inside.
Tom’s got a day off. He’s getting another one tomorrow and he’s gonna meet with Jolie.
Suddenly Tom feels a sudden rush of panic, as he recognizes the man across the street. It’s Danny Leonard. The criminal. The Thief.
Fuck, he’s gotta stop this guy.
All right, it’s time for the superhero gig.
It’s cool that he just found an ALLEY when he needed one.
THE ALLEY,
Tom opens the briefcase. The SPEEDCATCHER costume. Speedcatcher, it’s a long name. Call him Speed, or Speedie for short. Whatever.
CUT TO:
SAME ALLEY,
He’s already changed, and ready to rock.
The building in front of him is a pharmacy, it doesn’t have a really high roof.
He JUMPS.
Lands
ON TOP OF THE BUILDING
From here, he starts to run super-fast, and he searches desperately for any sign of Leonard. Fuck, he just hopes that he hasn’t lost him. He has to kill this bastard. He’s doing it for the people. He’s doing it for his girlfriend.
SPEED’S POV,
It’s Leonard, still across the street on the same sidewalk.
Speed high jumps and lands
ON THAT SIDEWALK,
immediately facing Leonard. Leonard’s surprised, who’s this? Spider-Man, or a ninja sent to kill him. He notices the SC sign on his chest and feels a little shock that it’s too good to be true. The bastard in front of him is a REAL superhero (?)
Speed throws a punch, Leonard evades it.
A battle takes place. Not a really spectacular one. But the sudden panic of the masses justifies it’s intensity.
CUT TO:
Two COPS watching Leonard and Speed fighting.
Leonard rockets upward, Speed grabs his legs, Leonard rockets some more. He doesn’t stop. Obviously this asshole doesn’t run out of fuel. Speed begins to think --- what is he doing?
Speed throws a punch, not as hard as he could, but enough to throw Leonard down below, but Leonard still uses the rockets on his boots, and grabs hold of a flagpole.
He escapes.
Speed lands on his feet. He leaps really HIGH, and grabs the same flagpole.
a WINDOW opens, and an OLD MAN emerges from it.
OLD MAN
Jesus Christ, that was some really cool stuff you did.
SPEEDCATCHER
Thanks.
OLD MAN
Who are you? Are you a real hero? Are you for real?
SPEEDCATCHER
I can run really fast, jump really high. And I’m pretty strong too. I guess. I’m a real hero.
OLD SC. Or is it CS? What does it stand for?
SPEEDCATCHER
Sir, that stands for Speedcatcher.
Enough chatting. Speed uses the pole to flip himself, and he lands gracefully on the sidewalk, down, down below.
EXT. A COFFEE SHOP – DAY
Like planned, Tom dating Jolie again. This time it’s a coffeeshop, Jolie is finishes the last of her chocolate milk shake. Tom’s not drinking anything.
TOM
I’m telling you, you gotta quit, Jolie, listen to me.
JOLIE
Who the fuck are you to tell me to quit my job?
TOM
I’m just someone who cares.
JOLIE
What is it with you, Tom? You’re over paranoid. You’re delusional, and whoever this Thief guy is, he’s a small time robber who’ll pro’lly get caught in less than two days.
TOM
Two days? Small time? We’re talking about a --- uh, mini-terrorist here, a supervillain, whatever you can call him. I mean haven’t you been watching the news?
JOLIE
I don’t watch T.V anymore, Tom.
TOM
Well, that explains it.
JOLIE
I don’t keep track of things that don’t have to be kept track of, you know that, we’re not gonna have this goddamn conversation again, because I am sick and tired of you bringing up this bullshit.
TOM
Jolie. I don’t wanna lose you.
JOLIE
Okay. Okay.
TOM
What?
JOLIE
You’re telling me to quit my job.
TOM
Maybe.
JOLIE
Arrr---
TOM
Quit for a few days, then come back give a chance for the FBI guys to work on this, or the cops the catch this man, give me more time.
JOLIE
Give YOU more time?
TOM
I mean --- nah, hah. The cops. Give them more time to catch this guy.
JOLIE
Tom. I’m sick of having this conversation.
TOM
Oh. Jolie, it’s for your safety.
JOLIE
Look, I gotta check the news.
TOM
Fine, check the news, turn your TV on for God’s sakes and see what’s going to happen. You’ll find out that this THIEF guy. Danny Leonard is no ordinary bank robber, and I know it.
JOLIE
And how do you know that?
TOM
What?
JOLIE
Have you fought with him.
TOM
No, no, God no, I haven’t fought.
JOLIE
Have you confronted this guy? Have you touched him, have you even talked to him.
TOM
No, no you’re right.
JOLIE
So stop bothering me, and get a life, Tom!
TOM
Jolie, we’re still friends. But since you’re my friend or possibly my girlfriend---
Jolie smiles.
TOM
I need to help you out, warn you and tell you what’s good for your safety.
JOLIE
Thanks for buying me the shake Tom!
Tom laughs.
TOM
Oh yeah.
JOLIE
But --- you still haven’t talked me into quitting my job!
EXT. SIDEWALK – DAY
Tom and Ellis are walking, chatting.
ELLIS
Maybe you don’t have to let her quit.
TOM
Look, its only for a few days, all right?
ELLIS
When was the last time you talked to Jolie about this?
TOM
Yesterday, we talked about this yesterday.
ELLIS
Well.
TOM
What?
ELLIS
Try harder. Call her.
TOM
She won’t listen.
ELLIS
Call her again.
TOM
Why don’t you talk to her? Maybe Jolie might listen to you. Maybe she’ll believe you, because you actually work together.
ELLIS
No! She won’t. Jolie’ll know that you told me to talk to her about it.
TOM
All right. All right, uhhh----
ELLIS
What is it?
TOM
Pretend to be paranoid. Act like me talk like me, and eventually get her to quit.
ELLIS
It might be too late. This THIEF he might start terrorizing our bank. It might be too late for that.
TOM
Shit.
ELLIS
Look, call her again.
TOM
Shit, I’m getting nervous all the time.
ELLIS
I know.
TOM
I’ve lost Erika, God forbid I might get a feeling of dejavu when Jolie’ll---
ELLIS
Yeah. Call her.
TOM
So.
ELLIS
Erika? How was she like?
TOM
What do you mean?
ELLIS
Suppose she was alive right now, who would you prefer to go out with, who would you rather have as your girlfriend?
TOM
Jolie Ferris. Still Jolie. But I don’t ----that’s why I don’t want her to go to work while this dangerous guy’s running around our city!
ELLIS
There’s something I gotta tell you---
TOM
What’s that?
ELLIS
Something you should know.
TOM
What?
ELLIS
No. No.
TOM
Come on!
ELLIS
Tell you what, I gotta go.
Ellis walks away, crosses the street and enters the bank. Enters Jolie’s bank. Should Tom visit? Nah.
EXT. THE STREETS – NIGHT
It’s an empty corner of the town. No one’s here except a BLACK STREET PUNK andKID. In fact both of them are black.
There’s also an OLD BEGGAR, seeing both of them ARGUE, and YELL at each other.
PUNK
I’m telling you, motherfucker, pay your dues! You pay me!
KID
I already gave you the three grand and seventy five cents! Now, leave me alone asshole.
PUNK
I’m not leaving you alone.
The punk draws a .38 and shoots the kid in the chest.
ATOP A BUILDING,
Speed stands, he’s holding his fire spear. The flames engulfing the tip of it.
He twirls it gracefully (like he always does) and leaps.
Speed jumps off the building, lands on the street. The corner were the murder just took place.
THE BEGGAR
still in the alley sees all this and is amazed.
PUNK
faces Speed, rebellious at first, but he starts looking like he’s scared shit.
PUNK
Who the fuck are you?
KID
on the ground, coughing blood, clutching his chest. Speed sees this.
SPEEDCATCHER
I’m Speedcatcher.
BANG! The punk shoots Speed right in the chest. Whoops, it’s bullet proof, and he didn’t even manage to take the S or the C.
The punk begins to run.
The punk runs desperately. He continues to run
SPEED
crouches and touches the kid’s body with his gauntleted hands.
SPEEDCATCHER
I can’t spare you, asshole.
It’s time to see Speed in action again! He sees the black punk really far away from him, desperately racing through the street.
Speed chases the guy super-fast.
Now, he’s about a meter apart from his running opponent.
Speed grabs the back of his T-shirt, and hurls him to the far wall.
ON OLD BEGGAR,
he’s walking to where Speed and Punk are. Now he’s seeing everything.
SPEED
pushes the fire spear through the punk’s chest.
SPEED
Sorry.
Then he jumps UP, lands on the ledge of a tall brownstone. He jumps again, disappears into the roof.
BEGGAR
Cool!
EXT. AN ALLEY – NIGHT
The beggar’s name is Burt, he’s talking to LT. JACK GARCIA of the Police Department.
BURT
Come on, you won’t even give me a dime for what I’m telling you.
GARCIA
So, who started the fight?
BURT
Ahhh, shit.
GARCIA
All right, we’ll take you to some ----to some government center where you can feel more comfort, now tell me what I need to know.
BURT
The big guy, the guy who was pierced by this guy’s spear.
GARCIA
And this vigilante. What was his name?
BURT
Speed. Speed something.
GARCIA
Well better remember it.
Neither the both of them are aware that Jacobs is right behind them, and he has been listening to the conversation ever since it started.
BURT
Yeah! Speedcatcher.
GARCIA
What’d you say he can do?
BURT
He can run really fast, jump really high, he’s one cool son of a bitch! You should have seen him. He’s amazing.
GARCIA
So?
BURT
That’s all, but I guess he’s really strong too.
Finally, Jacobs pulls Garcia’s shoulder and turns him around.
JACOBS
Gee, gentlemen, we have a case of the most dangerous thief the world has ever known, and now we have a guy who has super-human abilities roaming the streets?
GARCIA
Exactly, sir.
JACOBS
Agent Jacobs. FBI.
Burt backs away.
Garcia and Jacobs shake hands.
GARCIA
Nice to meet you.
JACOBS
Danny Leonard. We’re chasing Danny Leonard. And I have to tell you that you don’t have to worry about chasing this Speedcatcher guy. We’ll keep an eye on him, maybe shoot him. And put both Leonard and him behind bars. No one’s above the law, isn’t that right officer?
GARCIA
Whoever that Speedcatcher is, we need him detained, but you’ll take care of that part will ‘ya?
JACOBS
We will.
EXT. SIDEWALK – NEXT DAY
It’s the sidewalk across Jolie’s bank.
Tom is walking here. He spots Jolie. Talks to her.
TOM
Hey!
JOLIE
I’m about to go to work, what do want Tom?
TOM
I’m sorry.
JOLIE
Actually, I quit.
TOM
Really?
JOLIE
Really.
TOM
Good!
JOLIE
I’m GONNA quit.
TOM
You finally heard about the Thief didn’t you?
JOLIE
Yeah, I don’t wanna die early just because I work in a place where bad guys are gonna kill me just to get to something they want.
TOM
You’re quitting for good?
JOLIE
I guess.
TOM
Wow!
JOLIE
Right.
TOM
Thanks a lot. Jolie.
JOLIE
ummm---
TOM
---say, you have money? Have any problems? Want me to find you a new job? Wanna work in my book store?
JOLIE
It’s not your bookstore. But no, I need a rest. I’ve gotta rest. I’ll find a job soon, and I guess I’ll stay indoors while this Thief bastard’s still around.
TOM
Okay.
EXT. AN AIRPORT RUNWAY – NIGHT
THREE MEN holding AK 47’s are shooting at a 747.
They stop shooting.
Dead swat guys lie all around the runway, and literally surround the plane.
What have these guy’s done?
Speed suddenly lands in the mini-warzone, and he starts beating the crap out of the three terrorists.
He disarms them from their rifles, and now they’re nothing but dead bodies. (Or are they dead)?
A TV SCREEN,
It’s the airport.
A female newscaster gives Speed the mike.
SPEEDCATCHER
What should you call me? Speedcatcher, I am the fastest runner, the highest jumper, and I---I’m pretty strong too.
Speed jumps, disappears as the newscaster stares at the skies in awe.
The TV screen is actually one of a -----
INT. LOCAL RESTAURANT – DAY
Jolie’s seated on a table, she’s eating. Alone.
Garcia walks in. He’s wearing his uniform. He sees Jolie. Sits shamelessly in front of her.
GARCIA
Jolie? Jolie Ferris, is that you?
JOLIE
Hi, Jack.
They were classmates once in high school.
GARCIA
How are you doing?
JOLIE
Fine. I quit my job yesterday.
GARCIA
That doesn’t sound too good.
Jolie finishes eating.
JOLIE
I had to quit my job, because some Thief guy is flying around this city, robbing banks, and I don’t wanna get killed. I’m not in the mood of dying early.
GARCIA
I know about him.
JOLIE
See the TV?
GARCIA
Yeah?
JOLIE
There’s this new guy, a vigilante. He calls himself the Speedcatcher, and I think he saved passengers from a hijacking at the local airport.
Garcia stops smiling. He remembers how Jacobs stole the case from him. Why couldn’t he just take care of things?
GARCIA
Yeah, I know about him...yeah.
Garcia switches back to his cheerful mood.
GARCIA
You look even hotter, Jolie.
JOLIE
Oh? Sorry, it was my boyfriend who told me to quit, he suggested I do it, he was the first to know about this Thief guy.
A pause.
JOLIE
The city’s finest, huh?
GARCIA
It’s my job.
JOLIE
Will you be catching this guy?
GARCIA
No, I don’t work on that case. But don’t worry, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is involved, so they’re gonna wipe the floor with Thief’s ass in no time.
Jolie smiles.
JOLIE
Bye. I gotta go.
Jolie gets up. Leaves the restaurant.
A WAITRESS approaches Garcia.
WAITRESS
What’ll it be, officer?
INT. FBI HEADQUARTERS JACOB’S OFFICE – NIGHT
Jacobs and Jackson are having a serious conversation. Jackson’s leaning against the wall.
Jacobs is seated in front of his table.
JACKSON
What do we make of this Speedcatcher guy?
JACOBS
He’s bad. He kills people, he maims people, and I guess that’s just one way of telling us that he’s a hero who’s gonna save us, and he can kill anybody he wants.
JACKSON
We’re not the police, and besides we have a big-time jewel thief, bank robber to snare.
JACOBS
I’m J. Jonah Jameson here. I want him and Leonard behind metal bars, and I’m the one who’s gonna unmask him.
JACKSON
I don’t think Speedie here is a criminal.
JACOBS
He’s probably not. But we should catch him too.
JACKSON
And these reports about his super-human abilities. What if he’s not even human?
JACOBS
And don’t start talking like you’re one one of those guys from Roswell, I watch that show a lot. And, remember we might just get our rewards when we hand him over to the cops.
ATOP A TALL BUILDING
is a WAREHOUSE, its filled with open air.
Leonard is walking, and checking some of the jewels he has stolen.
He has a bag.
He opens it. It’s filled with money.So, this is where he stashes what he steals.But doesn’t he even worry that someone might find this place?
There’s the DIAMOND placed on a table, on top of a foam pillow.
It’s also covered by glass.
And, yes he’s dressed in the same overalls, including the shades. His shoes? They’re the same, he’s ready to go into action any time.
Speed lands on the floor, Leonard turns around.
LEONARD
You!
SPEED
Who are you?
LEONARD
I am The Thief.
SPEED
If you were really that smart, you could have looked for a more --- secluded place to hide these things.
(looks at the diamond)
Gee, that’s really nice.
LEONARD
Mind your own business!
SPEED
No doubt the cops are looking for me too.
LEONARD
You waxed some terrorists at the airport, you won’t last long.
Leonard draws his handgun and shoots Speed’s chest.
He doesn’t drop. In fact he approaches Leonard and gets ready to take him down.
He closes in on Leonard, he throws a punch. A HARD one. But it breaks the wall.
Leonard rocketed upward, now he’s behind Speed.
Leonard backhands Speed behind the neck.
Speed does a somersault.
Leonard turns around.
Now Speed is a couple of meters away from his opponent.
Leonard pulls out one of those air-propelled blades and activates them. He lets them fly toward Speed. Speed back-flips lands hard on his back. He GROANS. It’s gotta hurt.
SPEED
Argggh!!!
The blades disappear into the night sky.
Speed gets up.
But Leonard rockets, and flies forward, like Superman, he throws a punch.
WHAM! It hits Speed hard on the nose, and he falls to the ground below.
Leonard rockets back to the warehouse, lands and takes a breath. Leonard takes off his shades.
EXT. THE CITY SKYLINE – DAY
It’s a nice view.
EXT. A PARK – DAY
SWAT guys wielding HECKLER AND KOCH submachine guns have their attention on a Korean guy holding a girl at bay at the door of a BUS.
KOREAN GUY
I told you to give me the President! This girl will die, is up to you!
Jacobs is also in the scene. He’s carrying a Glock. He’s not part of this, but he’s hoping that Speedcatcher will show up.
INT. BUS
The Korean guy lets go the girl, and moves away from the door, into the bus where more passengers can shield him.
EXT. THE PARK
The THUDS of a running man can be heard.
It’s Speed.
Speed is running towards the bus, and he pushes a few SWAT guys aside.
SPEED
Jeez, haven’t you guys thought of tear gas? ‘Scuse me!
Coast is clear.
Speed leaps, CRASHES the bus window, lands inside the bus.
INT. BUS
He’s face to face with the hostage taker. Instinctively, Speed twists Mr. Korea’s hand and disamrs him from his weapon.
Speed snaps a double-roundhouse. Next thing that happens, the guy is lying on the street, chest hurting him like hell.
JUST OUTSIDE THE BUS, NEAR THE PARK
Speed gets out, checks the body.
He feels a sensation of a bullet hitting his back.
It’s from Jacob’s Glock.
JACOBS
Hold it right there!
Speed turns around. Puts his hands up, acts almost mockingly.
SPEED
Gee, ‘was only trying to help.
From above, Leonard is rocketing, he descends. He grabs Speed by the waist. Leonard shoots Jacobs in the head with his handgun.
ABOVE
Before Speed realizes it, he’s above the ground, more than a hundred meters! He struggles to let Leonard release him but he’s a little dizzy and in shock because Leonard is flying differently. Upwards, down, in loops.
Leonard manages to hit Speed’s face.
LEONARD
Mind your own business, you faggot!
Speed bangs Leonard’s wrist, his gun falling out of reach.
LEONARD
Arrrghhhh, fuck!
Leonard pulls Speed’s mask and sees his face.
Speed breaks from from Leonard’s grasp, his head hard hits a post, and he lands on the ledge of a window. He starts from here, and he’s gonna go for low enough until he can find a leaping point where he won’t break his legs.
He climbs down to another window. Okay, low enough, he jumps.
EXT. AN ALLEY – DAY
Tom pulls his mask back down. Darn it, he’s blown his cover this time.
EXT. SIDEWALK – NIGHT (UPTOWN)
It’s uptown, where all the tall buildings are.
Tom and Jolie are walking, happy.
TOM
So, you liked the movie?
JOLIE
Haha, yeah!
Tom and Jolie kiss. They continue to say some words to each other.
Then they proceed to walk through the sidewalk.
Suddenly ---
LEONARD
Ahhh – hah!
Leonard, with the shades, and yeah, same clothes comes rocketing downwards, he pulls Jolie by the back of her shirt, and holds her at bay.
LEONARD
You know where I’m gonna take her!
THE WAREHOUSE
The warehouse where Leonard stashes the stolen goods.
He slaps Jolie hard in the face.
LEONARD
What’s your boyfriends name?
JOLIE
(scared)
Oh, God, noooo!
LEONARD
What’s his name!
JOLIE
Tom! Tom Wagner.
Speedie to the rescue.
SPEED
Let her go!
LEONARD
Oh, hi Tom! You know what I’m glad that you didn’t kill that Korean guy.
Speed manages to get to Jolie. He holds her tight, jumps off from the roof.
FADE OUT.
INT. TOM’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Tom on the phone.
JOLIE
Stop doing this, Tom.
TOM
I have to. If you wanna w--- if you miss your bank, I have to catch him, or maybe kill him.
JOLIE
Good night, Tom, I gotta crash.
TOM
Good night. What’s Ellis’s number?
JOLIE
Why?
TOM
He was a good guy. Can’t afford to lose him.
INT. TOM’S HOUSE, LATER
Tom’s still on the phone.
ELLIS
Oh, Mr. Wagner, don’t worry!
TOM
Why shouldn’t I?
ELLIS
I’m not your girfriend am I?
TOM
(laughs)
No, just giving you my concerns.
ELLIS
How did Erika die?
TOM
She was shot by a drunk man. Found her at the morgue. Bad memories.
ELLIS
Who told you that? You saw it.
TOM
No.
ELLIS
So, how could you know it?
TOM
A man named Andy Patterson told me everything. A drunk man shot him.
ELLIS
I was there. Andy Patterson was threatened.
INSERT FLASHBACK:
Erika, a pretty girl standing on a sidewalk. Leonard threatening a man. What he’s saying is barely audible.
Leonard shoots Erika. That’s it. Tom’s girlfriend shot by the guy he’s trying to catch right now.
ELLIS
Danny Leonard shot Erika. I was there!
Tom is in shock.
He puts the receiver away from his ear, momentarily.
TOM
Bastard!
A TV SCREEN
Speed is talking to a male newscaster.
SPEED
Tell him to meet me there! Okay! If you’re watching, you damn well better show yourself.
ATOP A SKYSCRAPER,
Speed is waiting, holding his fire spear.
As expected, Leonard is rocketing towards Speed.
Speed swings his spear, and strikes Leonard’s back.
LEONARD
Arrrghhh!
SPEED
What’s the matter? Lost your gun?
LEONARD
No!
Leonard activates one of the air-propelled blades, he tries to take away Speed with it, but it’s no match for his deflecting skills with his ever handy spear.
The final battle is met.
Leonard and Speed are a few meters apart.
Speed grabs Leonard’s overcoat, hurls Leonard’s body away from the roof.
Leonard is DROPPING really fast.
*******
Speed jumps too, he runs Leonard through in the chest, killing him.
THE STREET
Leonard lands on his feet, using the spear as a shock absorber.
Speed is breathing hard, standing before Leonard’s bloody corpse.
SPEED
That’s for Erika!
EXT. COFFEE SHOP – DAY
Jolie and Tom, two cups in front of them.
JOLIE
So, you’re never gonna stop are you?
TOM
Well, he’s already dead. There are cops, let them deal with the scums of the town.
EXT. A BUILDING LEDGE, ROOF – NIGHT
Speed with his fire spear, wearing his costume. Fire on the tip of the spear, he’s posing gracefully facing the buildings that light up the night.
VOICE Freeze, you have the right to remain---
BACK TO THE COFFEE SHOP,
Tom nods.
TOM
It’s their problem. Yeah, I’ll burn the costume. Found a new job?
JOLIE
Not in the mood for finding one yet.
TOM
Oh.
JOLIE
What’s on the cinema today?
FADE OUT: THE END
Return to Simply Scripts
Return to Simply Scripts